PITTSBURGH — Duquesne University head football coach
Jerry Schmitt announced new additions and staff updates ahead of the 2025 season.
Keith Davis joins the Dukes as Defensive Backs/Cornerbacks Coach for the 2025 season. A 2010 graduate and two-time team captain at Northeast Conference rival Wagner, Davis earned All-NEC honors and played in the FCS Senior Bowl. He brings extensive collegiate coaching experience, including three seasons as a defensive coordinator at Colby College, and has also coached at Wagner, Dickinson, Bates, and most recently Assumption University.
Danny Welke will serve as Duquesne's Wide Receivers Coach after spending last season as an Offensive Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan. He previously spent two years on the Limestone University staff (2022–23), helping guide the Saints to consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearances, and coached at his alma mater, Marshall High School. A two-year letterman at Albion College, Welke played quarterback after beginning his collegiate career at Western Michigan. At Marshall High School, he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 41 touchdowns and also competed in basketball and baseball.
Former Dukes
Tyler Padezan,
Brian Bruzdewicz and
Matt Schmitt will join the support staff for their first season after concluding their playing careers at Duquesne. Padezan will serve as offensive quality control and assistant wide receivers coach. Bruzdewicz, one of the most accomplished kickers in program history, will work in special teams quality control after finishing tied for the career lead in PATs (134), second in career points by a kicker (245) and third in career field goals (37). Schmitt, who earned a marketing degree last spring and is the son of head coach
Jerry Schmitt, will take on defensive quality control and assistant linebackers coach duties.
TITLE PROMOTIONS
Hunter Geisel, entering his sixth season on staff, will take over as Director of Operations while continuing as Run Game Coordinator and Tight Ends coach. The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native and 2020 Duquesne graduate has led the tight ends since 2022 and was named run game coordinator before last season.
Kaleb Tkacs, a student assistant and member of the Duquesne Honors College, will serve as Assistant Director of Operations and Video Coordinator. Tkacs joined the staff last season as an offensive student assistant and oversaw the film crew.
Garrett Mack will serve as Special Teams and Recruiting Coordinator in addition to coaching the defensive line. Mack, former head coach of Division II powerhouse Notre Dame College, is entering his second season with the Dukes.
QUOTABLE
"We're excited to welcome Keith and Danny to our coaching staff as we prepare for the 2025 season," said Coach
Jerry Schmitt. "Both bring valuable experience and energy that will help elevate our program. Coupled with the promotions and contributions from our existing staff and student assistants, I'm confident we have the right team in place to build on our recent success and compete at the highest level."
| 2025 Duquesne Football Coaching Staff |
| Name |
Position |
Tenure |
| Jerry Schmitt |
Head Coach |
21st season / 32nd on staff |
| Anthony Doria |
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks |
15th season |
| Mickey Jacobs |
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
4th season |
| Mike Silianoff |
Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line |
19th season |
| Hunter Geisel |
Director of Operations / Run Game Coordinator / Tight Ends |
6th season |
| Garrett Mack |
Defensive Line / Recruiting & Special Teams Coordinator |
2nd season |
| Keith Davis |
Defensive Backs / Cornerbacks |
1st season |
| Paul Grattan |
Running Backs |
3rd season |
| DQ Jamison |
Defensive Backs / Safeties |
2nd season |
| Darnel Richardson |
Defensive Backs / Nickels |
16th season |
| Danny Welke |
Wide Receivers |
1st season |
| Support Staff |
| Brian Bruzdewicz |
Special Teams Quality Control |
1st season |
| Tyler Padezan |
Offensive Quality Control / Wide Receivers |
1st season |
| Matt Schmitt |
Defensive Quality Control / Linebackers |
1st season |
| Kaleb Tkacs |
Assistant Director of Operations / Video Coordinator |
2nd season |
| John Swisher |
Student Assistant |
2nd season |
